Under Attack at San Francisco State University

http://www.solidarity-us.org/node/5084
Date Written:  2017-09-01
Publisher:  Against the Current
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX21637

Students, staff and faculty at San Francisco State University are under investigation by the university on trumped up charges of anti-Semitism brought forth by San Francisco Hillel. This is the latest in a long history of accusations made against Palestinians and Palestinian advocates at SFSU by the pro-Israel organization.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

The latest allegations of anti-Semitism by Hillel were made in reaction to the organization not receiving a table at a "Know Your Rights" (KYR) Fair held in February of 2017 at SFSU. The purpose of the Fair was consistent from its inception: to outreach to groups vulnerable in the new political climate, with a focus on Arab and Muslim, LGTBQ, and Undocumented communities.

Participation at the fair included Palestine Legal, La Raza Centro Legal and ACLU. It featured one-on-one interface among Fair participants, self-defense training led by Girl Army, and legal advice panels to educate students on community efforts combating Trump’s Executive Orders. Jewish Voice for Peace participated in the Fair, among the over 20 participating organizations, where they reached out to Jewish students (some of whom were members of Hillel) in the potential makings of a JVP chapter at SFSU.

Despite this reality, Hillel continues to allege that Jews were excluded and that Fair organizers not making room for Hillel at the already over-booked event was an act of religious discrimination.

Instead, Hillel has fabricated a storyline in which the Fair organizers changed the description of the Fair to the exclusion of pro-Israel and Zionist organizations. Anti-Zionism is not Anti-Semitism. I reject Hillel's or any other definition that equates criticism of Israel with anti-Jewish hatred.